Chapter 30
The hunted tracker.
We spend several days developing our strategy. Edward can hear the thoughts of all of his family members and the Denalis...so I'm the one who has to approach him in the end. Alice and Jasper set out to locate him without being spotted.
"I'd like to go with you too," Garrett said. I haven't traveled for a long time. And now that my eyes don't scare humans anymore, I can't wait to be able to blend in with them without having to hide my face.
Will you be able to control your thirst? worries Irina.
He has interest! Or else I'll treat him with shock! Kate then intervenes by passing electricity through her hands. »
My father jumps at this sight and looks, worried at Tanya, who reassures him:
"Don't worry sweetie, my only supernatural talent is to make you moan in less than a minute.
Eurk, I groan, mimicking the gesture of vomiting.
A problem, my dear? Tanya asks me mischievously.
My father has no sexuality, I reply, at least not to my knowledge…
I've heard that somewhere before, Esme chuckles. »
I glare at her. My father decides to intervene:
"Don't tease her too much Tanya dear. I'm the one who will pay after…"
I wince at the term endearment, but secretly, I'm happy for my dad. It seems my warning has saved Harry Clearwater's life for the time being. He is followed by one of the best cardiologists in the state of Washington, thanks to Carlisle's connections. The potential relationship with Sue will probably never happen. I wonder if Tanya and Charlie might have gotten closer at Bella and Edward's wedding in the original storyline if he and Sue hadn't started dating. The relationship depicted in the book seemed more awkward and friendly than romantic. Conversely, I had in front of me a Charlie looking relaxed and fulfilled. His relationship with Tanya seemed more natural and deep than the one he had with Sue in the book. When Charlie apologized for a human moment, I sat next to my potential future mother-in-law, who looks at me suspiciously and thanks her. His surprise is a spectacle in itself.
"Welcome to the family, Tanya, I continue hugging her. Take good care of him. »
She hugs me back and replies:
"Garrett is right: you are the strangest human I have ever met in my life!" »
Throughout our stay, I see Irina watching me furtively, but intensely. I don't have good news for her, so I don't say anything to her or respond to her looks. Finally, Eleazar and Carmen return from their trip. If Carmen immediately shows warmth with my father and me, delighted that Tanya has found her companion in him, Eleazar hangs on my father for a few seconds, raises his eyebrows in surprise, then comes towards me and opens his mouth wide. I swallow and greet him. He shakes my hand and meets my gaze. I don't know what he sees there, but it makes him chuckle.
In the end, Charlie and I leave Alaska with everyone's phone number and a promise to call us when Edward is located. Tanya will be joining us soon, along with Esme, Carlisle, Irina, Carmen and Eleazar. The latter having been invited to reside in the Cullen villa. I think for my part that I will have to order truckloads of earplugs if I want to be able to sleep from now on.
Guess I'll have to get used to seeing Charlie and Tanya guzzle each other's eyes or just swap their mouth flora like they're doing in front of my disgusted eyes. After taking the same old plane that had taken us to Denali, we take the road towards the house. My dad spent the trip listing all the changes he plans to make to the house. I suggest good soundproofing to keep good relations with the neighbors. At which he bursts out laughing. Me, I remain very serious, which has the effect of making her laugh even more.
Jacob visits us shortly after our return. I apologize to him for hiding the truth from him. He nods his head, telling me that his father had explained to him that I would have broken the treaty and started a war. I ask him about his months spent in the form of a wolf.
"I let myself be carried away. I felt like not thinking about anything and it was refreshing to put my problems aside. At first, of course, there were the voices of Sam, Jared and Paul that bothered me, but I managed to ignore them and two weeks ago I couldn't even hear them anymore. I had left the pack without even realizing it.
So are you a lone wolf? You don't mind?
No ! On the contrary, I took a liking to independence.
And yet, you came back!
And just in time to see one of my two best phaser friends! Paul told me you saw this scene weeks ago.
Yes, but not Embry's transformation, just two wolves in the water carrying a girl with long brown hair. »
I see out of the corner of my eye my father, who has remained silent until then, looking at me with a burning gaze. Damn it ! As long as Jacob doesn't talk about what I'm doing at La Push...
"By the way, do you want me to check your bike?" I know a little about mechanics…"
Well, obviously karma intends to make me go to the checkout. I turn to my father with a grimace.
"I have all the necessary protections, I try in vain to catch up. »
Jacob realizes he's screwed up and changes the subject.
"By the way, Dad told me the leeches were coming back soon…"
Carlisle had called Billy before we left to let the Quileutes know they were back and about the newborn vampires in Seattle. The pack was also preparing for battle.
"Yes, but you only know Carlisle and Esme. Emmett and Rosalie return from Africa in two weeks, Alice and Jasper are accompanied by two vegetarian friends and try to locate the moron who serves as my companion, and four other vegetarian vampires move in with Carlisle and Esme.
Well then ! It's going to be a leech in Forks! You know it might cause even more phasing because of the multiple scent trails.
We need reinforcements to face the army of newborns.
At least I would have the opportunity to rip a few.
As long as you don't take it out on Tanya, my father snaps.
Uh… Who is Tanya, Jacob asks me, a bit lost.
His girlfriend… "
He still does not understand, so I specify:
"He's one of the vegetarian vampires moving to Forks. »
Jacob opens his mouth wide. So I deliver the coup de grace:
"Dad is his companion. »
Jacob seems to be digesting the news and asks me very seriously if there is a single member of my family who is completely normal. I know then that he accepted the news well. Charlie asked Jacob to let him tell Billy about his relationship with a vampire. Obviously this news was a shock for him and Jacob and I had to do the intermediaries for long days before Billy realized the obvious: his best friend was in love and he only had to rejoice for him, after so many years of waiting for the return of his ex-wife. As for me, I was eager to see the meeting between Renee and Tanya. It was going to be epic! Note to self: avoid having the first meeting on my wedding day… In the end, I had not been able to visit Renee, she was not staying in one place for more than a few days and she suggested that I wait until spring instead.
Charlie wasn't kidding when he talked about sprucing up the house. He had repainted the walls, changed the yellow cupboards in the kitchen, as well as his old decrepit sofa, his bed and all of his bedding, mattress included. He clarified in front of my skeptical gaze that the bed base creaked. It was a detail I could have done without, but I was grateful for his effort to preserve my sanity.
Tanya and Irina made their small impression when they arrived in town. Tanya in particular shocked the small population of Forks by moving in with my father. For the first time, Charlie received envious looks and he cringed when he saw a man leering at his girlfriend. I had had a lot of questions about my new mother-in-law, but their curiosity was quickly swept away because I had simply decided not to tell them anything, except that I loved Tanya very much and that I was happy that my father has rebuilt his life.
The pack and the vampires had begun discussing strategy on how to deal with the newborns. Jasper had given some advice so that everyone could start a special training. The treaty had been amended to include the Denali. Charlie hadn't yet expressed any desire to become a vampire, but if the question ever arises, I wondered what would happen to the newly created peace.
Today, I'm packing my suitcase, not to spend the weekend with the Cullens, like I've been doing for the past two weeks to preserve the quality of my sleep, but to make the trip that will bring me back my idiot fiancé. Alice sent me a message, along with instructions for buying plane tickets and meeting her in Rio. My goal is simple: get Edward back to Forks and spend Christmas with our family.
I close my suitcase, get in Charlie's car and he drives me to the airport. He hugs me and wishes me good luck, recommending that I use Kate as a taser if necessary if suspicious guys approach me. When I board the plane, a blue window appears and I grit my teeth and swear:
"Main Quest: Find and convince Edward to come back with you… Reward: A wedding… Penalty: Death of several friends. Duration: 72 hours. Developer Tip: Sometimes the solution is just a good slap!"